Sectionalism 1820-1860
Essential Question Compare and contrast the characteristics and influences of the three major sections of the United States by the mid-19th century.
Causes of Sectionalism Loyalty to region Social & cultural differences Economic differences Federal vs. States’ Rights
The North •Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Old Northwest •Commonalities: •Bound by transportation advances •Industrialization and commercial farming •Prohibition of slavery (most) •Characteristics: •Most populous • High birthrate • Large # of immigrants
The North •Industrial Northeast •Organized Labor - factories National Trades’ Union (1837) - failure •Urban Life expansion of population —> expansion of slums poor sanitation, disease, high crime rates •African Americans 1% of population but 50% of free blacks 2nd class, non-citizens
The Agricultural Northwest Old Northwest (OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN) Tied to North East as result of: military campaigns against Indians building of canals and railroads Agriculture New inventions lead to expansion McCormick reaper, Deere steel plow New Cities Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago distribution/shipping points
Immigration Causes of Influx: Largest Groups: inexpensive and expedited ocean travel famines and political unrest (push) economic opportunity in U.S. (pull) Largest Groups: Irish potato famine settled in cities NY, Boston, Philadelphia identified w/Democratic party influence of/on Tammany Germans Revolutions of 1848 and economic hardships settled in rural areas of Old Northwest pro-public education anti-slavery
Nativism Reaction to: Manifestations: Immigrant culture: Catholicism (Irish) Alcohol (Irish & Germans) Political strength Manifestations: Supreme Order of the Star Spangled Banner American Party - “Know- Nothings” Riots in cities
The South Agriculture and King Cotton continued importance of cash crops and plantation system only 15% of industrial production impact of cotton gin Slavery, the “Peculiar Institution” Population Growth: 4 million (1860) all natural slave trade ended in 1808 although some smuggling occurred Higher demand in Deep South majority of slaves now on plantations/large farms (opposite of early period)
Nature of Slavery Slave Life Resistance Effects: varied by plantation harsh to humane treatment development of slave culture religion slave hymnals retention of kinship Resistance Routine: slowdowns, sabotage, escape Uprisings/Rebellions: Vesey (1822) Turner (1831) Effects: Southern States tighten strict slave codes Polarized nation: Northerners became critical of institution Southerners became more defensive
Southern Society Free African Americans White Society Southern Thought Roughly 250,000 could own property could not vote had to prove status White Society Rigid Hierarchy Aristocracy (Planters) Farmers Poor Whites “Mountain People” Cities small populations compared to North Southern Thought Education higher education only for the wealthy Religion
The West American Indians The Frontier Exodus to Great Plains Impact of the Horse Major Tribes: Cheyenne Sioux The Frontier Mountain Men Beckwourth, Smith, Bridger The Homestead White Settlers Role of Women – short life span Environmental Damage land wildlife
Advances in technology & Transportation Development of mechanized textile mills in England and Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin made Cotton Cloth affordable Advances in transportation led to more settlement in the West along with increased demands for cotton.
U.S. Manufacturing (1860) Region Number of Establishments Employees Value of Product North Atlantic 69,831 900,107 $1,213,897,518 Old Northwest 33,335 188,651 $346,675,290 South 27,779 166,803 $248,090,580 West 8,777 50,204 $71,229,989
Population and Occupation Increase surge of Immigration due to developments in transportation 1832 Germans- West Irish- North Small villages and towns grew into thriving cities